How Does the Economic Incentive of Block Rewards Align with ‘Honest’ Mining Behavior?

The block reward, which includes a subsidy and transaction fees, is only paid to the miner whose block successfully becomes part of the longest chain. Since honest mining, by immediately broadcasting, maximizes the chance of a block being adopted and extended, it aligns with the miner's self-interest in earning the reward.

Deviating with strategies like selfish mining introduces a risk of the block being orphaned.